Day 5  - Venus Williams Interview
Friday, May 27, 2005

 Q. What happened today? Do you have any explanation?

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I think I had an early break in the first, or I got
broken early. But then after that I think, you know, she kind of changed her
game completely and started hitting a lot of slow balls.

You know, I wanted to keep playing the aggressive game. But, you know, each
ball was like close to the line, but according to the umpire every one out. I
just maybe went for too much. Basically just too many errors.

Q. Is there any way in your own mind how you can go from playing pretty
decently in other matches, winning a tournament last week, to almost fall
apart today?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Every tournament's different, so...

Q. I know you just came off court, but again, in the third set, did you lose
rhythm a little bit? Could you not deal with the slow balls? What was going
through your head there?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I just came off the court, so I have to think about it.
But maybe just, you know, rushing too much, too many errors.

Q. No aces, seven double?faults today. Is there an issue with your serve
right now in terms of finding the range?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think ?? yeah, I don't think I had my range for my serve
this tournament. You know, just wasn't good.

Q. How are you feeling right now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean, right now I'm just I guess preparing for the next
tournament. That's all I can do.

Q. Tough loss. You seem pretty down. Is it pretty shocking, given how you
were playing coming in?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. It's fairly disappointing. Just disappointing.

Q. Two of 22 Americans are in the next round. Do you have any explanation for
why the Americans are doing so bad this year on clay here in Paris?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I have no explanation.

Q. Did you have an issue with your lower leg? You had a wrap on it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No.

Q. Why were you wearing that thing then?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I had no issues.

Q. Talk about your opponent. She had a pretty decent breakout year last year.
She's only 15. To be able to beat a four?time Grand Slam champion like you,
she's got to be doing some things pretty decent?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I'd never heard of her or seen her before this match. I
think she played well, definitely. But I also felt like if I just played 10%
better, you know, I'm going to win this match easy. You know, it's obviously
great for her. But at the same time, I felt like, "Wow." You know, I kind of
beat myself.

Q. Are you confident things are going to turn around for you in the
short?term or do you think it's now more of a long?term process until you get
the confidence back and things start clicking week after week?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think that ?? I don't know. I don't really think about
that, to be honest.

Q. You and Serena climbed to heights that were never seen before. You had
such marvelous performances. Right now it's not going well. Do you expect
those days can be regained?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I feel like, you know, I'm a great player, but this is
just not the best result for me right now.

Q. Do you feel you and Serena can climb to the top again?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely think so.

Q. What would be a good Wimbledon for you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Obviously a win would be nice.

Q. As you move forward, getting ready for Wimbledon and beyond, will you
consider changing any fundamental way you approach your practices, whether
it's considering any kind of coaching relationship, or does it feel to you
like the thing to do is just to work harder on the path that you've been
working?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think that I'll continue on my path (smiling).

Q. What are you going to do to prepare for Wimbledon? Are you going back
home?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm going home, and I'm not playing any tournaments
before. Just Wimbledon.

Q. You mentioned Zina was getting after you to do more serve and volley. Are
you going to go ahead and commit to doing that there or are you still working
on that part of your game?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Maybe, but, I don't know, I like being at the baseline.

Q. We feel sorry and embarrassed to ask you questions when you apparently
don't really like to answer because you just lost. Don't you think you should
give to yourself a little more time before coming to a press conference?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, because I'm ready to leave. I have nothing else to do
here, no doubles, no mixed. I'm just ready to go.

Q. That's the main issue, you want to leave?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I really am ready to go.